Coupling device and antenna

Abstract

A coupling device includes a plurality of couplers, a first coupled output port and a second coupled output port, wherein the plurality of couplers comprise a first coupler and a second coupler that are adjacent one another, and each of the first coupler and the second coupler comprises a main line and a subline, and for each of the first coupler and the second coupler: the subline includes a first section, a second section, and a third section, wherein the second section of the subline of the first coupler has a common segment with the first section of the subline of the second coupler.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. A coupling device comprising a plurality of couplers, a first coupled output port and a second coupled output port, wherein the plurality of couplers comprise a first coupler and a second coupler that are adjacent one another, and each of the first coupler and the second coupler comprises a main line and a subline, and for each of the first coupler and the second coupler:
 the subline includes a first section, a second section, and a third section, wherein
 the first section is located on a first side of the main line and forms a first coupling unit with the main line such that a first portion of a signal passed on the main line is coupled to the first section to generate a first coupled signal; 
 the first section is coupled to the first coupled output port and configured to pass the first coupled signal to the first coupled output port; 
 the second section is located on a second side of the main line and forms a second coupling unit with the main line such that a second portion of the signal passed on the main line is coupled to the second section to generate a second coupled signal; 
 the second section is coupled to the second coupled output port and configured to pass the second coupled signal to the second coupled output port; and 
 the third section couples the first section to the second section, 
 
 wherein the second section of the subline of the first coupler has a common segment with the first section of the subline of the second coupler. 
 
     
     
       2. The coupling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first section of the subline of the first coupler is coupled to the second section of the subline of the second coupler sequentially through the third section of the subline of the first coupler, the second section of the subline of the first coupler, and the third section of the subline of the second coupler. 
     
     
       3. The coupling device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first coupler and the second coupler further comprises an inlet and an outlet, and for each of the first coupler and the second coupler:
 the main line is configured to couple the inlet to the outlet, the first section of the subline includes a first isolated end closer to the outlet and a first coupled end closer to the inlet, and the second section of the subline includes a second isolated end closer to the outlet and a second coupled end closer to the inlet, wherein
 the first coupled end is coupled to the first coupled output port; 
 the second coupled end is coupled to the second coupled output port; and 
 the third section couples the first isolated end to the second isolated end, 
 
 wherein the common segment couples the second isolated end of the first coupler to the first isolated end of the second coupler. 
 
     
     
       4. The coupling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second section of the subline of the first coupler substantially coincides with the first section of the subline of the second coupler. 
     
     
       5. The coupling device according to  claim 1 , wherein there is an interdigital structure either between the first section of the subline and the main line or between the second section of the subline and the main line in at least one of the first coupler and the second coupler. 
     
     
       6. The coupling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the main line or the subline of each of the first coupler and the second coupler comprises a microstrip transmission line. 
     
     
       7. The coupling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first section and the second section of the subline are both parallel to the main line in each of the first coupler and the second coupler. 
     
     
       8. The coupling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of couplers are disposed around a central region of the coupling device. 
     
     
       9. The coupling device according to  claim 1 , wherein a first set of couplers in the plurality of couplers is disposed in a first layer, a second set of couplers in the plurality of couplers is disposed in a second layer, each of the first layer and the second layer is substantially parallel to a substrate of the coupling device, and the first layer and the second layer have different heights in a direction perpendicular to the substrate. 
     
     
       10. The coupling device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 for each of the first coupler and the second coupler, the main line is configured to couple at least a portion of a radio frequency signal for a radiating element of an antenna to the subline, and 
 at least one of the first coupled output port and the second coupled output port is configured to be coupled to an antenna calibration device. 
 
     
     
       11. An antenna comprising:
 a plurality of radiating elements, an antenna calibration device, and the coupling device according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the main line of each of the first coupler and the second coupler in the coupling device is coupled to a radio frequency signal transmission channel for a corresponding one of the plurality of radiating elements; and 
 at least one of the first coupled output port and the second coupled output port is coupled to the antenna calibration device. 
 
     
     
       12. The antenna according to  claim 11 , wherein the main line is coupled to the radio frequency signal transmission channel through a coupling element. 
     
     
       13. The antenna according to  claim 12 , wherein the outlet of the main line is coupled to a matching load. 
     
     
       14. The antenna according to  claim 11 , wherein the main line is configured as at least a portion of the radio frequency signal transmission channel so as to be coupled to the radio frequency signal transmission channel. 
     
     
       15. The antenna according to  claim 14 , wherein the outlet of the main line is coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of radiating elements. 
     
     
       16. A coupling device for a base station antenna, comprising:
 a first coupled output port; 
 a second coupled output port; 
 a first coupler that includes a main line and a first subline, 
 wherein a first section of the main line forms a first coupling unit with a first section of the first subline and forms a second coupling unit with a second section of the first subline, wherein the first coupler is configured so that first coupled signals that are coupled to the first section of the first subline through the first coupling unit pass to the first coupled output port and are substantially isolated from the second coupled output port, and so that second coupled signals that are coupled to the second section of the first subline through the second coupling unit pass to the second coupled output port and are substantially isolated from the first coupled output port. 
 
     
     
       17. The coupling device according to  claim 16 , further comprising a second coupler that is adjacent the first coupler and that is electrically coupled between the first coupled output port and the second coupled output port. 
     
     
       18. The coupling device according to  claim 17 , wherein the second coupler includes a second main line and a second subline,
 wherein a first section of the second main line forms a third coupling unit with a first section of the second subline and forms a fourth coupling unit with a second section of the second subline, wherein the second coupler is configured so that third coupled signals that are coupled to the first section of the second subline through the third coupling unit pass to the first coupled output port and are substantially isolated from the second coupled output port, and so that fourth coupled signals that are coupled to the second section of the second subline through the fourth coupling unit pass to the second coupled output port and are substantially isolated from the first coupled output port. 
 
     
     
       19. The coupling device according to  claim 17 , wherein the second section of the first subline and the first section of the second subline comprise a common transmission line segment. 
     
     
       20. The coupling device according to  claim 17 , wherein the second coupling unit is connected to the second coupled output port through the second subline and the third coupling unit is connected to the first coupled output port through the first subline.